Recently, on the subject of summer vacations, the comedian Jim Gaffigan pondered that popular, sometimes annoying question: “You have any summer plans?” He riffed on the idea that people always assume we have to go away. Hard to disagree when listening to these engaging and entertaining audiobooks. They will take you everywhere you want to go, baggage-free.
True to summer, our editors have made the listening easy. They've chosen a great mix of stories in a variety of genres that have a range like the weather—hot, cool, stormy, breezy, dark. By the way, on the unavoidable subject of rising temperatures, we have one of the most engrossing and well-informed listens dedicated to climate change. And of course, since it's summer, fish will be jumping but hearts will be thumping with love stories from sapphic to hetero waiting to be embraced.
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For me, summer has always been synonymous with renewal. Long past the days of living by an academic calendar, the heat of the season still marks in my being those special months meant for rest, rumination, and psychic rebirth. If you, too, find yourself looking for thought-provoking listens while catching some rays, look no further than Sam, a meditation on girlhood penned by National Book Award finalist Allegra Goodman. The novel delves into the harsh truths of class divides, the scars that we tell ourselves are merely scratches, and the seemingly minuscule moments that end up shaping our lives. This portrait of growing up is truly a must-listen that is best consumed all in one go—making it an ideal companion for a lazy weekend getaway. —Maddie
I identify as a bad summer person—so the title initially drew me to Emma Rosenblum's debut novel, Bad Summer People. I fully believed that the story was centered around a woman like myself, who plans to go to the beach but never does. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the chaotic and messy residents of Fire Island. Bad Summer People is told from the point of view of multiple unreliable characters, each with their own side of things. This whodunit mystery starts with the discovery of a dead body, with each account leading up to the moment of discovery. The sassy dialogue, performed by January LaVoy, an Audible favorite, made for an immersive, fun, and entertaining non-beach beach day listen. —Patty
For me, summer means one thing: looking forward to fall. And so I’ll welcome any listen that allows me to, just for a time, imagine I’m somewhere more inviting—back at college perhaps, the crisp air feeling like possibility and opportunity. That’s the vibe The Adult, a quietly gripping sapphic coming-of-age story, gave me. I devoured this debut, hanging on every move (and awkward stumble) the young, naïve Natalie made as she fell deeper and deeper into a love affair with an enigmatic older woman, all while trying to shape her own identity. Emma Love’s performance delivered that perfect mix of youthful innocence and feigned, unearned confidence. —Sam
Who in the world wants to be over seven feet tall and look barely 30 years old but is actually 91? This thriller begins with the murder of a pretty ordinary man, who decided to become a Titan by willingly submitting to T7 genetic therapy. The detective on the case, Cal Sounder, is meticulous and he's the right man for this momentous puzzle of a plot. The therapy was created by Stefan Tonfamecasca, whose whole family are giants. You don’t want to mess with these people. Could they have body positivity issues? Davis Brooks's narration is captivating as he goes from Cal to Tonfamecasca. —Yvonne
I'm not really the outdoorsy type, so when (and very much, if) I pack for the beach, I need a quality thriller audiobook to keep my brain active while I people-watch from my shady spot on the sand. One fascinating mind-bender I enjoyed was The Maid’s Diary by bestselling author Loreth Anne White and performed by the theatrically talented Jane Oppenheimer. It's a twisty mystery set on a waterfront estate called the Glass House. With the help of the diary of Kit Darling, the nosy maid who’s gone missing at her also-missing employers' home, the details are provided by unreliable characters with their own secrets. It's up to homicide officer Mallory Van Alst to solve what exactly happened. Too bad no one is quick to throw stones in this wealthy neighborhood, especially since they all have secrets to protect. —Nicole
The main character of Ruth Madievsky’s sad, druggy, and glitteringly good debut novel holds everything in—from her mentally ill mother, earnest boyfriend, and toxic sister, Debbie, whose presence is so magnetic it obliterates all else. Luckily, narrator Moniqua Plante is a direct conduit to her brain, and her hypnotic performance of the novel's dazzling prose and devastating epiphanies had me hitting the jump-back button again and again to better savor every moment. This is a beach listen for people who don't do light and airy: Fans of Ottessa Moshfegh, Raven Leilani, and even Bukowski will lap this up. Like the latter, All-Night Pharmacy poetically excavates LA's dark and sleazy side, but with a psychic sapphic romance and hopeful recovery arc that are totally of the moment. —Kat
I learned so much listening to this book from veteran climate journalist Jeff Goodell. He has been on the climate beat for nearly 20 years and seems to have had a beer with just about every eminent climate scientist in the world. He goes right to the heart of the climate crisis—how rising heat is a threat to most every living thing on the planet—with reporting that takes listeners from Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef to the parched Western US, all delivered by award–winning narrator L.J. Ganser. The narrative is rich with fascinating characters, personal anecdotes, and science exquisitely explained in layman’s terms. It makes a hard subject go down easy, and left me armed with a whole new awareness about the greatest challenge of our time. —Phoebe
I’m not a big beachgoer—I love the serenity of a lulling tide and keeping watch for coastal critters, but sun and sand don’t agree with me. So, when vacation takes me seaside, I need a listen capable of eclipsing my surroundings. If you, like me, prefer a solo listening experience that’s as absorbing as it is essential, give Elliot Page’s exceptional debut memoir a listen. Unflinching, exquisitely written, and narrated with stirring vulnerability by the author himself, this celeb memoir soars above the headlines, instead detailing the pursuit of authenticity in a voice void of equivocation. —Alanna
Michelle Wildgen loves to obsess over culinary delights and the back-of-house drama of haute restaurants in her novels, so I was excited for her latest. I felt a slight buzz listening to her detailed account of the wine business due to the constant drinking of obscure varietals, handling of delicate vessels, and red wine headaches. Told through a workplace rivalry between two young women in a male-driven industry that turns into an intense, lifelong friendship, this is a great listen to whisk you away, as we travel (and imbibe) with them from New York hot spots to European cellars and even a few California vineyards. Just be prepared that you may feel compelled to upgrade that canned rosé for something more cultivated to sip while you listen—or not! —Jerry
I devoured Farah Heron’s fun follow-up to Kamila Knows Best while on vacation in the Dominican Republic. Jana travels to Serengeti National Park to be a bridesmaid in Kamila’s destination wedding and is reunited with her ex (and the father of her child), who is also a member of the wedding party. While Jana desperately tries not to fall back in love with Anil, I soaked up the vibrant sights and sounds of Tanzania. Soneela Nankani’s lively performance made me feel like I was actually there and tasting the delicious foods mentioned throughout the audiobook (recipes are included in the accompanying PDF). No matter where your travels take you this summer, this second-chance romance is the perfect escape. —Margaret
